TeachersFirst's Management Tips for the BYOD Classroom
One of the biggest challenges of BYOD or 1:1 classrooms is managing 20+ students on (possibly) 20+ different types of devices. How does one teacher learn all of the devices, the differences between app vs. web version, and how to help all of those students without being a master of each device? Realistically, most teachers can’t master all types of devices and that is OK. How do you make certain that you are within your school’s acceptable use policy? We are here to help you manage and be informed, regardless of the level that you teach.
Explore these links for more information about using the Internet and apps in the classroom:
General tips for using mobile and web apps in the classroom
Solutions to school policy/logistics challenges of some app features
Tips for managing DATS in elementary school:
Get confortable NOW with Kid-Techsperts. Train your students to teach EACH OTHER!
When you introduce a new site, give students time to “tech it out” and PLAY! This will help keep their attention later when giving instruction.
Use Google Docs/Drive so that documents can be edited from anywhere with web access. This is much easier than saving on Word. You may need to have a class account and assign numbers for the Google accounts. Consider using Gmail subaccounts (see the Tips pages above to learn HOW).
Create a small toolbox for your school. Introduce one tool per year per grade! For example, students can learn and master a simple tool in kindergarten that doesn’t require reading such as Symbaloo. In first grade, try another tool such as Kahoot. In second grade add another and so on. By the time a student finishes fifth grade, they have learned (and mastered) six great DATs! Teachers really only need to master their grade level’s tool. Teach a team of kid Techsperts how to TEACH new students the tools from previous years. Assign 2-4 class techsperts for each class in the grade.
INVOLVE the parents! Have a parents’ night to help them understand and get involved in your DAT classroom. You may want to use parents as volunteers as students learn the new tools.
Share all of the DATS with your parents on your class website or wiki. Not familiar with a wiki, see TeachersFirst’s Wiki Walk-Through.
Tips for managing DATS in middle school:
Once expectations are established, organize a “Tech It Out” Night to explain policies, procedures, and examples of integration ideas to your families. However, have the students organize and run the event for parents. Included digital citizenship information and tips for parents to manage the devices at home.
Use colored solo cups to manage and monitor your movement around the classroom. If a blue cup is showing the student is cool, and if a yellow cup is showing the student needs some assistance. A red cup indicates a student has an important question, and they need help immediately.
Lanyards are great to identify student “techsperts” in the classroom. BYOT is the true sense of academia. Provide students the opportunity to teach and share the technology so the teacher can focus on the content and creativity.
Procedures for charging, storage, and other procedural tasks must be modeled early and often for the students. Challenge your students to create short video clips of your classroom practices.
Provide sandbox time for students to explore creative opportunities during transitions or stations. This will provide an opportunity for the students to take a creative risk when demonstrating learning goals.
Tips for managing DATS in high school:
Depending upon the age and maturity of the students you have, just giving them your philosophy of what learning in your classroom should look like is usually enough buy-in for students to use the device appropriately.
Ask three other people first before you ask me your question. Leverage the power of learning from others.
Be consistent with infractions. If you have a rule, enforce it. It is okay to discuss the big rules and get student input.
There are times you need to have no technology. Ask students to put their devices away at that time. Know what you can use technology FOR.
Don’t worry about figuring out every device. That will happen with the help of everyone in class. By this age, most students have mastered their own devices.
Have a plan B. You don’t need two formal plans, but be prepared with an arsenal of other activities that can yield the same result. Be flexible.
Back to Top Tools for BYOD Classrooms
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